Artists

Diego Silva & Thieli Hanssen

About Diego & Thieli

Diego Silva and Thieli Hanssen are two of Brazilian Zouk's most celebrated artists. São Paulo-born and internationally recognized, they are competitive champions, master instructors, cultural ambassadors, and official judges of the Brazilian Zouk Dance Council (BZDC). Their careers represent more than two decades of dedication to a dance form they have helped carry from Brazil to stages across Europe, the Americas, and beyond.

Diego Silva

Diego Silva is a Brazilian dancer, choreographer, and educator from São Paulo, Brazil. His love of movement began at age 12 with ballroom dancing, and by 18 he had earned his certification as a professional dance instructor. Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, Diego has spent his career teaching, competing, and performing across multiple countries.

His technique is precise, powerful, and deeply rooted in body mechanics, yet always in service of connection and artistry. Over more than 15 years of professional experience, Diego has built a reputation not just as a technically exceptional dancer, but as a teacher who can make the most complex concepts feel natural and intuitive.

Thieli Hanssen

Thieli Hanssen's path into dance began at age 12 through Brazilian folklore, a foundation that gave her an intrinsic sense of rhythm, cultural identity, and performance presence. At 14, she transitioned into ballroom dancing, and her talent was immediately apparent: she went on to represent Brazil in international folklore festivals. By 17, she had begun teaching, and she has never stopped.

Thieli's movement vocabulary is expansive and expressive, drawing on her folklore roots and ballroom training to create a style that is both technically rigorous and emotionally vivid. She is a native Portuguese speaker and also teaches in English and Spanish, making her accessible to students from across the global Zouk community.

The Partnership

Diego and Thieli formed their professional partnership in 2018, each bringing more than 15 years of individual experience to their collaboration. What they built together quickly became something the Zouk world had not quite seen before: a duo capable of seamlessly blending technical perfection with raw artistic expression.

Both are official teachers and judges of the Brazilian Zouk Dance Council (BZDC) and proud members of "Geração São Paulo" -- a collective of the most influential Brazilian Zouk artists of their generation.

Competition Achievements:

• 🥇 1st Place -- Dance Open Brazil (Zouk Category)

• 🥇 1st Place -- 2nd International Zouk Congress

• 🥇 1st Place -- 2nd NEXT DANCE with Ballroom Dance

• 🥇 Champions on Netinho de Paula's "É DA GENTE" national television program (2021)

Teaching Philosophy

Diego and Thieli's classes are known for being simultaneously technically demanding and joyfully accessible. Their curriculum, developed through years of teaching across skill levels on six continents, emphasizes five pillars:

1. Body Awareness -- understanding mechanics and movement quality from the inside out

2. Connection -- developing genuine, nonverbal communication between partners

3. Musicality -- interpreting music authentically through the language of Brazilian Zouk

4. Cultural Context -- honoring where every movement comes from

5. Progressive Learning -- building skills methodically, from foundation to full artistic expression

They hold teacher training certifications through the BZDC and offer structured programs from beginner intensives through advanced competition preparation.